IIRC, when you install W8.1 you can choose whether to have skydrive enabled or not...

I never got that option. Maybe it's just on 8.1 installs.

It's definitely not on W8 installs, it'd only be W8.1...I know for a fact that when you go through that first time setup, at some point there is an option in regards to skydrive...I just don't remember if it completely disables it or if it just doesn't automatically upload files...

Charms bar, settings, Change PC Settings, SkyDrive.

jupp charmsbar didnt know the name for it hehe will correct that in my previous post ty RND 

Yep. And might I also add that those are not even options if you sign on to your PC with a local account instead of a MS account.

In other words.. don't sign in with a MS account and you won't have to worry about any of that.

Elementary, basic shit IF one has bothered to take the time to learn how to use W8 before spouting off.

Yes, Phoon, but using a local account will cause you to have to sign in to get apps from the MS Store, correct?

Which is no big deal, of course.   

You can still set up your store and link it with a MS account without signing in to the pc with a ms account.

Can 8 be setup with a Gmail account?

Can you elaborate on that Kona? For what purpose?

I don't think you will be able to access the Windows Store without a MS (Live) account. But once again, you don't have to sign on to your PC with a MS account. You can use a local account. You could also link your local account to your MS account but I would not do that if you don't want to have stuff sync across multiple devices.

As for skydrive.. HANDY shit! I use it and find it very convenient. I can access it from any PC via the web and get files I need. I just don't store personal info there. If you are worried about that one, I can enlighten you to a nifty Apple snoop that I discovered that makes this look tame.

Ok, good to know. I setup with the MS login, then opened up a admin command prompt. (Win key + X) typed in the following:

control userpasswords2

then unchecked the "user must  enter a user name and password to use this computer"

hit apply type your password twice, ok, and ok.

This way, I don't have to enter a password everytime I boot up.

I never did like having to login when starting my PC. No need to password my home PC, no one here to use it but me and my wife.

If I wanted to setup Windows 8 with a Gmail account as the main email. Does it really have to be a Microsoft email account? I have a healthy dislike of Hotmail.

Have you actually looked/tried outlook.com? I like it. I run 2 Win8.1 devices at home, and 3 at work, plus have a work phone that is W8. By utilizing Outlook.com and Skydrive I can get my contacts in Sync across the board and get the files I want to have on each device quite easily.

I like it as well, handy as hell.

I use Outlook that is part of MS Office. I like it fine and it handles my gmail, yahoo, comcast, live, and AOL emails all in one place.

Kona, I believe the setup we are talking about has to be either an MS Account, or a local account, which requires no email.

Phoon, I recently purchased a Windows 8 phone as well. Still getting used to it. It does things that my android doesn't, but the android does things that the windows phone doesn't. Not sure where I am on that topic as of yet.

I agree but I'm iPhone.

My W8 phone is a Lumina 920. It doesn't even take as good of pictures as the iphone does and it has a better camera. Not even a fraction of the apps either. But, that's a topic for another thread....